intrepidity and skill during the tremendous hurricane encountered by the Hercule, Sept. 6th in the same year, again drew forth the most hearty encomiums from Captain Dunn[1]. On the 23d of the same month, he passed his examination, and was immediately presented with a lieutenant’s commission, appointing him to the command of the Ballahou schooner. In Feb. 1805, on that little vessel being ordered to the Newfoundland station, Sir John T. Duckworth removed him to the Surveillante frigate. Captain John Bligh, formerly of the Theseus, and then about to sail on a cruise off the Spanish Main.
Whilst under the command of Captain Bligh, to whom he bad already so strongly recommended himself by his courageous and zealous behaviour at Curaçoa, Lieutenant Travera was engaged in many boat affairs. On one occasion, he led a division to the attack and capture of fifteen deeply laden merchantmen, lying under the protection of several batteries and a national brig, at Campeachy. A few days afterwards, he commanded at the capture and destruction of nine other vessels in the same neighbourhood. In March, 1806, with a single boat’s crew, and no assistance at hand, he boarded, in open day, and carried a large Spanish schooner, El Serpanton, of 6 guns and 35 men, lying with springs on her cables, at the mouth of the river St. Juan. He subsequently landed with Captain Bligh, and the greater part of the Surveillante’s crew, on the island of St. Andreas, the garrison of which was completely surprised and carried away to Jamaica, Lieutenant Travers remaining on the spot as governor, with El Serpanton under bis command, and a party of marines for his protection. Whilst thus employed, he succeeded in capturing several vessels., the crews of which, being confined on board El Serpanton, prevailed upon four or five of his men to assist them in running away with her; and they were in the very act of making sail when Lieutenant Travers arrived on board in a canoe, having received information of their design from a faithful sailor, who had swam on shore purposely to give the alarm. This intelligence reaching him at
